Gregory Soltis, 75, formerly of Walnutport, died on Feb. 12, 2024, in Bethlehem Manor.

Born July 19, 1948, in Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, he was the son of the late George “Pete” and Veronica (Osinkosky) Soltis.

He is survived by a sister Gloria Soltis of North Catasauqua, who was his caregiver until she could not do it anymore, and a brother-in-law Thomas Young of Lancaster.

He was predeceased by a sister, Georgette Young.

He lived in South Bethlehem until he was 3, then was raised in North Catasauqua.

He was a Lehigh Valley native who made serving others and the community a life long passion.

He graduated from Catasauqua High School and then Mansfield University with a Bachelor’s degree in history education.

After graduation, he joined the Volunteers in Service to America program, now part of the AmeriCorps.

He spent the next two years in Tennessee serving the impoverished areas of the state, lobbying to bring back food stamps to those in need.

That is where he met his best VISTA friend Rick Brown.

Upon returning to the Lehigh Valley, he worked for several local companies including Bethlehem Steel, Howard’s Construction and Hillenbrand Framing.

Additionally, he worked pouring urethane floors for Versa Tech, and racket ball courts for Martin Surfacing and Decking in Maryland.

In 1984, he became foreman for Kempton Valley Builders, then became self-employed in 1989 when he formed Greg’s Enterprise Construction - Construction with Concern.

His company employed carpenters who undertook commercial and residential project.

He lived in Laurys Station for a few years before moving to Walnutport where he became involved in many community organizations.

He was a member of the Walnutport Canal Association, for which he played the Easter Bunny every year, and was part of the planning of the annual Walnutport Canal Festival.

He also did a lot of the construction at the Walnutport Canal Park.

He was a member of the Slatington Rotary Club and Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary, Slatington, where he sang with the church choir.

In his youth he was an altar server at St. Andrew’s Church, North Catasauqua.

He was a paperboy for the Bethlehem Globe Times receiving an award for the “Outstanding Newspaper Boy Award” presented by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association.

He also received the annual Spirit Award from the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce.

A Phillies fan his entire life, he enjoyed reading The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Smithsonian and National Geographic magazines.

He played baseball in seventh and eighth grades and then in high school.

He wrestled on the Catty team with his best friend George Hillenbrand.

He also sang with the school choir and played football for the N. Catty Little League and later coached baseball at the Little League.

His favorite past time was hiking.

He would walk almost two miles to church every Sunday until he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Thank God there were witnesses.

He wouldn’t even leave a duck lay there. One day a duck was hit.

Children nearby were so upset that they asked him for help.

He took the duck to the animal hospital, where the receptionist said, “Well, I don’t know if we do ducks.”

He did not care about fancy clothing or cars. He didn’t even have a TV for years until he couldn’t walk much anymore.

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, he finally bought a TV to occupy his time.

All he cared about was giving his money to good causes, including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Smile Train, Alzheimer’s Association, the Canal Association, and his college.

College years were his best years.

He met his best friend Ed Slattery at Mansfield.

He gave blood at the Miller-Keystone Blood Center and was upset when he couldn’t give blood anymore.

He was sad when he had to give up his license to drive and his trucks.

He loved his canal so much, he would sit on the front porch, drink coffee, looking over the canal, commenting that it was like watching a movie.

Anyone reading this obituary, if you ever come in contact with an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient, remember: Do not ask them to remember.

Do not try to make them understand. Let them rest and know you are with them.

They are confused beyond our concept. Kiss their cheek and hold their hand. They are sick and lost.

All they know is that they need you to be with them at all cost.

Do not lose your patience with them. Do not scold or curse their crying.

They cannot control the way they act even if they try.

Remember, they need you because the best of them is gone. Please do not fail to stand beside them.

Contributions may be made in his memory to his church, St. Jude, the Smile Train, Alzheimer’s Association, the Walnutport Canal Association or to Mansfield University.

Arrangements were made by O’Donnell Funeral Home, North Catasauqua.